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Produce => Pests & Diseases => Topic started by: Susiebelle on August 03, 2010, 17:32:27

Title: Something in my liquid Fertilizer?
Post by: Susiebelle on August 03, 2010, 17:32:27

I always make Stinging Nettle fertilizer from the first flush of nettles - this year I haven't used it all yet and when I went to use it there are lots of plump fleshy maggoty thingies all swimming/moving around at the top of the liquid - does anyone have any idea what they are and if it's still OK to use?

Title: Re: Something in my liquid Fertilizer?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on August 03, 2010, 18:11:12

Possibly rat-tailed maggots; do they have long 'tails' they use to breathe through? Whatever, it'll be perfectly usable.

Title: Re: Something in my liquid Fertilizer?
Post by: manicscousers on August 03, 2010, 18:33:00

we had them last year, yuuuuck !!!
uckily, ray's not as squeamish as me and used the compost tea,anyway  :o ;D

Title: Re: Something in my liquid Fertilizer?
Post by: Digeroo on August 03, 2010, 18:41:56

I had lots in mine.  Does not seem to affect the plants.  The thrushes love them.  My container was full of them but the next day they had all gone and a large frog hopped out of the mix.  It was amazing that it did not mind the nettle mix at all.

Title: Re: Something in my liquid Fertilizer?
Post by: Susiebelle on August 04, 2010, 08:37:13

Many thanks for all your responses, rat tailed  maggots seem to fit the bill  - I am pleased to be able to continue using it, I do agree very very 'yukky'

Title: Re: Something in my liquid Fertilizer?
Post by: Kepouros on August 04, 2010, 12:39:05

I always take them fishing.  Practically everything with fins and a tail goes for them in a big way

Title: Re: Something in my liquid Fertilizer?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on August 04, 2010, 17:14:24

The fish are probably used to them, and they don't normally have a hook inside!

Title: Re: Something in my liquid Fertilizer?
Post by: calendula on August 04, 2010, 18:30:12

but aren't rat's tail maggots the hover fly? amazing that such such yuk can tun into something so useful - my dank water butts were full of them during the hot spell

Title: Re: Something in my liquid Fertilizer?
Post by: Susiebelle on August 05, 2010, 12:07:24

Are they really Calendula so I should leave them be?

Title: Re: Something in my liquid Fertilizer?
Post by: calendula on August 05, 2010, 14:29:43

yep  :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat-tailed_maggot

Title: Re: Something in my liquid Fertilizer?
Post by: Digeroo on August 05, 2010, 15:41:06

Oh yuk have you read the bit about having them in your back passage?  They are back enough in the nettle tea. 

They do not seem to like comfrey though.  I wonder if few comfrey leaves with the nettles would put them off.

Title: Re: Something in my liquid Fertilizer?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on August 05, 2010, 20:20:12

I found a dead one in my pee barrel today.